# What, if anything, do you excel at? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 13, 2000, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-you-excel-at/41004 "2000-11-13T15:05:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-you-excel-at/41004/21 "2000-11-14T01:00:33Z")
Sloth. Envy. Lust. Gluttony. Greed. Maybe a couple others. šŸ˜‰ In all honesty, Iā€™m not the best at anything. In fact, Iā€™m not even good at anything. How Iā€™ve lasted this long would baffle minds much greater than my own. ---
**Author:** ![Welfy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e56c9b/32.png) [@Welfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Welfy)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-you-excel-at/41004/22 "2000-11-14T01:01:53Z")
Iā€™m excellent at singing and writing. I kick ass at singing the national anthem, which is a good reason they have me sing at our schoolā€™s basketball games. My writing has been known to make people cry. Iā€™m good at torturing my boyfriend, whether it is making him listen to Britney Spears horrific voice _evil laugh_ or pulling his chest hairs. Iā€™m really good at obscure trivia. Iā€™m told that Iā€™m a good kisser. I know a lot about psychology, Spanish, and classic literature. Younger kids at school know to go to me when they have problems in these subjects. Iā€™m good at getting my way, dammit. I wear the pants in every relationship in my life, I believe. Everyoneā€™s wrapped around my little finger. I am the expert on guilt trips and procrastination. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-you-excel-at/41004/23 "2000-11-14T01:12:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by andygirl \* > \*\*Iā€™m pretty good at trivia. My quiz bowl team made second in the state last year. > Iā€™d like to think that I excel at writing. > I have near-perfect pitch. \*\* 1. JOIN DARTMOUTHā€™S TEAM! 2. Me, too . . . but not as much so, as I normally take apart othersā€™ arguments. 3. I have relative pitch, which is much more annoying:) I can also make harmonies to songs given (most of the time) very little of the actual melody. I usually just know where a songā€™s going. 4. Iā€™m pretty decent at grammar . . . my frosh year english prof told me I could copyedit anywhere I want, basically. 5. I have a decent command of trivia in some areas, most notably sports (baseball in particular) . . . this will improve with age, as I currently have a gap from around 1975 to 1989 (baseball histories of this period Iā€™ve found to be intensely boring). 6. I rock at most Sierra (Microprose/Sid Meier) games. ---
**Author:** ![Baraqiyal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@Baraqiyal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baraqiyal)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-you-excel-at/41004/24 "2000-11-14T01:13:44Z")
Reversi. Iā€™ve played over 50,000 matches over the last two years and Iā€™m pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-you-excel-at/41004/25 "2000-11-14T03:35:04Z")
Although my grammar and vocabulary are atrocious, I seem to be able to nail the pronunciation on every foreign language I study. This has been very useful in landing public speaking jobs and a few voice-over gigs in Japan. I am able to stay calmer and more relaxed than anyone else in my office. I just remember that nothing in my job is important or dangerous enough to cause injury or death, and even if I have no idea what to do, panicking is unlikely to be the right choice. Iā€™m frequently surprised at how few of my co-workers remember this. ā€“sublight. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-you-excel-at/41004/26 "2000-11-14T03:39:48Z")
Almost forgot: Iā€™m also really good at trivia, in just about any subject except music and sports. I became a local celebrity for a few weeks during my senior year in high school when WCVB-TV Boston ran a quiz show called ā€œHigh-Qā€ and I led our team to the finals. Finished second, though. Oh yeah, and Iā€™m humble, too. ā€“sublight. ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-you-excel-at/41004/27 "2000-11-14T03:58:05Z")
I am also good at providing technical support. I type like a motherfucker. I am good at spelling. I memorize well. I make wicked good chocolate chip cookies from scratch. I excel at walking into things. I make a mean pot of coffee. I am good with children. Even though Iā€™m good at falling apart, Iā€™m also good at holding other people together when theyā€™re falling apart. I listen well. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by oldscratch_ > Iā€™m good at being empathetic And I greatly appreciate it. ---
**Author:** ![ThisYearsGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@ThisYearsGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisYearsGirl)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-you-excel-at/41004/28 "2000-11-14T04:54:52Z")
Iā€™m a damn good hula-hooper. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-you-excel-at/41004/29 "2000-11-14T05:03:36Z")
1. I can annoy almost anyone. 2. I have come up with more alternative pronunciations of the name ā€œNadeauā€ than anyone else I know. 3. I can come up with many, many, many nicknames for Gunslinger. 4. I type quite fast. 120 wpm, 98% accuracy. 5. Iā€™m a state-level speller ā€“ fifth place when I was in eighth grade. Iā€™m unsure of some words but my first guess is usually correct. ---
**Author:** ![Eo\_Echo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ebca7d/32.png) [@Eo\_Echo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eo_Echo)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-you-excel-at/41004/30 "2000-11-14T05:53:52Z")
Iā€™ve got a great sense of direction and ability to remember street names and locations. I can remember the way to places I visited once two years ago or longer. Iā€™ve got a natural time sense thatā€™s good enough that I was able to sit down at a drum kit for the first time and keep a beat without ever having had a lesson. Iā€™m good at getting drunk. Iā€™m fairly worthless in just about every other regard. ---
**Author:** ![Juniper200](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@Juniper200](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Juniper200)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-you-excel-at/41004/31 "2000-11-14T06:15:27Z")
Iā€™m good with pop culture trivia (My team came in third in Trash Regionals at OU two weeks ago. Answered a bonus about the Straight Dope for 30 pointsā€¦ask me about my brilliant 40 POINTS in a 40-30-20-10-1 bonus!) I can beat Snood on Evil difficulty. I have a very broad (and occasionally frightengly specific) knowledge of tombstone art and burial practice. I can do very fine work when painting miniatures and plaster pieces. I can recite much of the Hitchhikerā€™s Trilogy verbatim (the result of my misspent preteen years). I know 15 Broadway musicals by heart (the result of a misspent childhood). I can tie a cherry stem in a knot with my tongue. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-you-excel-at/41004/32 "2000-11-14T06:38:01Z")
1. I make the most beautiful children in the world, although I did have help. 2. Iā€™m a decent martial arts studentā€¦ I pick up bits, and am an excellent physical mimic, so I suppose that helps. 3. I can do a broad range of accents. 4. I am well versed in both history and geography. 5. Mrs. Tristan, and a few others, have given me very good marks in cunnilingus. 6. I am a good listener. 7. I am very good at large scale tacticsā€¦ the bigger the better. Fun to tell those above me exactly whatā€™s going to happen during SCA warsā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-you-excel-at/41004/33 "2000-11-14T12:51:48Z")
1. Languages. I just pick up a new one very quickly, for some reason. 2. Apline skiing. Although not world class, Iā€™m an excellent skier considering the fact that I am a tourist who only skis a week per year. 3. Driving. And I mean DRIVING. I always know what a car is doing, even when pushed to the very edge. Iā€™m convinced I would have made a good professional race car driver, given different measures in terms of height, weight, etc šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-you-excel-at/41004/34 "2000-11-14T13:04:37Z")
Iā€™m great at rescuing sewing projects from the jaws of certain failure. Of course, thatā€™s because I have a lot of practice, which is to say Iā€™m also great at pushing sewing projects right up to the jaws of certain failure. My carrot cake, chocolate cheesecake, chocolate cake, brownies and chocolate chip cookies have gained local renown. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-you-excel-at/41004/35 "2000-11-14T13:15:59Z")
I have an ear and aptitude for languages. I have a pretty high math aptitude - almost an instinct. Iā€™m a fairly competent self-taught musician, when I take the time. Iā€™ve got a pretty remarkable sense of direction - in traveling, not in lifeā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![JimmyNipples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@JimmyNipples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyNipples)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-you-excel-at/41004/36 "2000-11-14T14:34:28Z")
I am an excellent shot. Always the best shot in my Sea Cadet Corp. Best in the Province 6 years running and 3rd in Canada. I can shoot the pus out of an ear lobe at 150 ft. Iā€™m a rather good parent. I make mistakes of course, but I respect my children, and make them feel loved. Iā€™m creative. Iā€™m entertaining. Not so much on the radio, but I make people laugh. Iā€™m quick witted and smart. I have a very healthy attitude towards life. No matter how bad things are, they could be worse. There is ALWAYS a positive side to a situation. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-you-excel-at/41004/37 "2000-11-14T14:53:29Z")
I can type and crochet faster and better than anyone I know. I have an amazing memory that can recall things that happened decades ago like it was yesterday. I memorize spellings, telephone (and fax and beeper and cell) numbers, and web addresses cause itā€™s easier than looking them up. Iā€™m a world class problem solver and ass kicker. I know more about Andrew Lloyd Webber than he does. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-you-excel-at/41004/38 "2000-11-14T15:23:11Z")
I am a better than adequate Quake player. I even surprise myself, especially with the railgun. I can read six languages. I beat Planescape: Torment in under a week. I am a Master Debater. No, really. I have state and national titles from high school tournaments. No one irritates my girlfriend with small, accidental comments as well as I do. Not something Iā€™m proud of or anything, but my ability has got to be world class. MR ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-you-excel-at/41004/39 "2000-11-14T18:42:26Z")
Im a great orator, i cant write for shit but i can talk **anyone** into **anything**. Iā€™ve talked teachers into passing me when i had less than 40% attendence and didnt do any of the assignments, ive talked people out of their religions and ive talked straight girls into tongue kissing each other. I also remember birthdays, i have no idea why but i still remember all my friends birthdays from elementary school, alot of times i remember someone **by** their birthday (oh yea, hes november 14th!) I dont know everybodys birthday but if you tell me once i will never ever forget it. ---
**Author:** ![vix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a88e4f/32.png) [@vix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vix)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-you-excel-at/41004/40 "2000-11-14T19:42:37Z")
Iā€™m pretty good at interior decoration/design. One of my friends called me the Italian Martha Stewart. Iā€™m a good ESL tutor. Iā€™m good with kids. I excel at honesty, which is not always a good thing. Iā€™m a decent poet. Last night, I was told that Iā€™m a great kisser, but itā€™s possible that the kissee had an ulterior motive. šŸ˜ƒ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-you-excel-at/41004.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-you-excel-at/41004.md?page=3)